It’s June, and that can mean only one thing: Vegas! Yes, it’s time for my annual birthday trip to Vegas for some rest, relaxation and Tequila! But it’s also time for me to reflect on one of the weirdest experiments I’ve ever taken on: the Fisker Ocean. It’s been 9 months, and honestly, to sum it up: I love this car!
I know, this is weird. For a car that has so many problems, has no company behind it, how is it that I’m more at ease, and generally more happy than I was with my previous cars: 2021 Polestar 2, 2018 BMW 640GT, 2010 BMW 550GT, and then various Mercedes and GMCs before that. Well, to sum it up in one word: Fit
The Ocean fits me. Fits my style. What’s my style? Power, Comfort, Sound.
The Polestar had the Power. 408hp. Loved it. Stepping on the gas…er…excuse me, the accelerator, unleashed a rocket of a car. It was quick, firm suspension, wide stance and good looks. But it was too small. Driving long distance became a dread chore. Around, quick as a whip. On the road, ouch. Knees rubbed raw but the center console. Legs strained by trying to hold the knees of the center console. Ugh!
The car had a Harmon Kardon sound system. The same sound system I hated in the BMW 640. Damnit! Listening to music was just that, just listening. Not really enjoying, definitely not loving. Just listening. And wondering why it didn’t sound better.
The BMW 640GT was nice. Looks wise, easily the best of the group. But it lacked the Polestar’s power. I didn’t realize it at the time, but 335hp is nothing. Not to a racer at least. And that sound system was horrible. I was constantly trying to adjust it to no end. And oddly enough, the car wasn’t comfortable. The center console for some mysterious reason, would become extremely hot. Unclear if it was exhaust fumes heating up the car, or an electrical short burning through. It just would get uncomfortably hot.
And no one ever really said they liked the look of it. I mean they would say, “Nice car.” But no ever said, “Oh! That’s nice!”
The 550GT was king of this group. It had a twin-turbo V8, pumping 408 furious horses. Had a fun sound system, combining USB thumb-drive music library with XM satellite radio with a Bang Olufsen sound system that produced concert quality sound. But oddly enough, the comfort was somewhat lacking. The was 98% wide. Meaning, it was wide enough for spacious comfort and room, but too wide to put both arm on the door and center console arm rest. I was constantly shifting between the two. Never getting the sense of resting in the car.
Then along comes the Fisker. Busted up, broke down car company no longer existing because of the rumor it was the worse car ever. It first, I felt like it was ok, nice enough. Picking it up for $25k, it was the cheapest of all the cars. But first the first rive, the Power was obvious. 468hp on tap. Ready, steady, go! The sound was good. Very good. And then I sat in the back seats, and wow! Incredibly good. It left a smile in my tummy. But what gets me is the comfort. The seats. The steering wheel. The center console. All millimeter perfect.
This is the first car where I didn’t nit pick about details that made me feel like I wanted to trade it in come Sunday. Spotify allowed me to create all my favorite playlists, replacing the old USB thumb drive. The arm rests sit in prefect reach. The accelerator punches up g-force levels of drive. Sometimes, it’s just fucking awesome! That unmatched thrill of instant acceleration paired seamlessly with the liberating freedom of long-range electric driving. No compromises, no limitations— it’s just pure driving pleasure.
With a massive 113 kWh battery pack, the Ocean offers up 300 miles or all purpose range. So getting to Vegas is not a problem. I mean, this is one of the longest ranges available in any electric SUV today, second only to the Lucid cars costing tens of thousands of dollars more. So whether you’re city cruising the streets or heading out on the highway across state lines, I enjoy the confidence of fewer charging stops and more freedom to drive and explore.
I’ve thought about buying someone’s smaller 20″ wheels, to maximize the full 360 mile range, but the cost is prohibitive, and honestly, 300-miles on the 22″ wheels is plenty. Again, getting from Palm Springs to Vegas non-stop add to the comfort feeling. A sense that you can do anything, go anywhere, at anytime, makes the seats all the more Comfortable, the Sound system more enjoyable, and the Power more… well, powerful.
Like I said, it’s a great fit!